Blakeslee man arrested in Hypsie Gap Road murder (with video)

Police have arrested a Blakeslee man in connection with the murder of Steven Richard Santillo, 47, who was found shot dead at an intersection in Chestnuthill Township last Thursday morning. Fritz Dejoie Jr., 21, of Blakeslee, was arraigned Tuesday evening at Mountainhome District Court on murder charges, according to state police.

MOUNTAINHOME — While being led into district court in handcuffs for his arraignment today on murder charges, a Blakeslee man glared at a reporter and said nothing when asked why he committed the crime.

A motorist found Santillo’s body last Thursday morning at Hypsie Gap and Laurel roads, on secluded state game lands, in Chestnuthill Township. Santillo had been shot four times and left in the middle of the road.

Police said Dejoie in his written statement also has admitted to trying to destroy or conceal evidence. Police said they found the gun taken apart and left in two different undisclosed locations, one in Monroe County and the other in Carbon County.

A police affidavit and comments from Lt. Robert Bartal of the state police barracks at Hazleton give the following account:

The investigation, through interviews with those who had known Santillo and people he had associated with, led to Dejoie, who police said is unemployed and had been living with family. The investigation revealed the relationship between Santillo, himself unemployed, and Dejoie had involved drugs and that Santillo had “possibly owed monies to” Dejoie.

Dejoie, when interviewed on Saturday and Monday, denied any involvement in Santillo’s murder.

On Tuesday, he contacted police and asked to be brought to the Fern Ridge barracks, where he then provided the written statement.

“The defendant and Mr. Santillo spent some time together leading up to the murder,” Bartal said, but did not say what exactly they had been doing in the area of Hypsie Gap and Laurel roads in Chestnuthill Township last Thursday morning.

When asked if Dejoie has said why he shot Santillo, Bartal declined to comment.

According to defense attorney Robert Saurman, Dejoie said he and Santillo had driven in Dejoie’s vehicle to Hypsie Gap and Laurel roads, where Santillo came at him in what he interpreted as an aggressive manner. Dejoie said he felt his safety was at stake and that he had to defend himself, according to Saurman.

Police said it appears the shooting took place outside of Dejoie’s vehicle.

Bartal said he cannot comment on whether Dejoie has a criminal record, but Saurman said Dejoie has no such record and has never been involved in drugs or any other illegal activity.

“He comes from a good, decent family,” Saurman said, gesturing toward two men identified as Dejoie’s father and uncle, both of whom attended today’s arraignment and declined to comment. “He’s the last person you’d ever suspect in a murder.”

Magisterial District Judge John Whitesell remanded Dejoie to Monroe County Correctional Facility without bail, since murder is a non-bailable offense, to await a future preliminary hearing before Brodheadsville Magisterial District Judge Debby York. Dejoie can have a hearing, at which York decides whether there is sufficient evidence to send any or all charges against him to county court, or waive his right to that hearing.

Once in county court, he can go to trial, plead guilty or plead no contest.